The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1887-10-01

Inc CLOCK Struck twelve, and still Harry
Donaldson sat musing by the fire.
"Pll not disturb Louise tonight. She
has been dreaming long ere this. I'll lie
down on the settee, and in the morning /
hope the rose tints will have returned, and
everything pass on smoothly Louise is a
dearirl5 after all, and ought not TO have
spoken to her. the way did, but shall
make amends in the morning"
And he closed his eyes lazily.
"Where is Mrs. Donaldsong' he asked
next morning, upon entering the dining
room, and finding her accustomed place
empty.
Mrs. Donaldson has not arisen yet y
answered the servant.
VERY well, Peters, I'll wait for her."
He missed his wife's little smiling face
and bright talk.
Something else he missed, too, as be
glanced oyer the costly silver and china.
Usually bouquet OF freshly-cut flowers,
on which the dew still clung. was placed by
or near his plate.
For a half hour he ioitered about, listen
ing eagerly for the patter of his wifc's foot
steps.
At every sound he would turn, only to be
disappointed.
'Louise must sleep unusually sound this
morning. III go and see what keeps
her."
And he softly ran up the stairs and
tapped lightly on the door,
No answer
Again lie lapped-a little louder.
Still no answer.
Calling her name gently, he opened The
door and walked in.
Imagine his surprise when he saw that
tile snowy bed had not been crumbled; the
pillows bearing no impress of little brown
head.
''Good HeaYenl'' he cried, thoroughly
startled.
Louise, Loulse" lie called "where are
you?"
lie could not account for that indescrib-
able something which settled on his heart
and made it feel like lump of lead in his
bosom.
Instlnctiyely he walked toward his wife's
pretty little inlaid escrltore. The inkstand
with the gold pen still in it as though used
hurriedly, attracted his attention and he
reached forth his hand and picked M the
open sheet of paper.
Quickly his eyes scanned the hastily
written words.
With low, hoarse cry he crulnpled the
note 10 his hands, He seemed suddenly to
have turned into marble, he looked so
white and still.
Louise, his wife, gone! In an instant the
five brief months of his married life passed
before HIM. With keen pang of remorse,
he remembered how he had neglected her.
Every one else's wishes had been consid-
cred before hers, yet she bore 1t like an
angel, never had she complained of his ne
gligence or Indifference.
The night before had been the only out
burst, and he knew well that he had been
the cause of it.
Again he read the brief note.
''How meanly she must think of me, he
groaned. "Only last night told her that
had married her for her money. How
did know that under my self-love and ly-
ing dormant in my heart, passion for my
own wife had slowly awakened. Oh,
Louise, Louise, my poor neglected wife, l
fear the knowledge has come too lateW
When the sun went down that night, the
blinds were drawn and the doors of Pine
Hall were closed for mary a long, weary
day.
Such pretty spot The neat little white
cottage with its bay-windows and little ivy
covered veIandas formed quite picture in
the soft hazy light. At least so thought
Harry Donaldson as he sauntered by and
passed on down the shady road.
Ii was very nearly nine months ago that
he had closed Pine Hall, vet he looked ten
years older.
. The gay, careless, devil-may-care ex-
preston had vanished and given place to a
sad, remorseful one. The blue eyes were
no longer laughing and Indifferent, but
grave and preoccupied
9"I shall meyer find her." lie would often
murmur brokenly
The little white cottage had some subtle
attraction for him.
The cool white curtains gathered grace
fully back, and the scent of roses always
brought fresh memories Of his lost wife.
One evening, just as the moon was rising
and casting soft radiance over the little
town situated on the Rhine, he stood lean
ing against tree, his eyes fixed vacantly
on the little UNCOVERED cottage before
him.
Suddenly there foated out on the slill
night air, q few low chorus IN which